Wedding Songs of Dowe People Wedding_Songs_of_Dowe_People Documenting the Dowe language

This academic paper documents, describes and analyses one kind of Dowe songs, namely those that are earmarked for being sung during a wedding ceremony. The paper gives information on the Dowe language; transcriptions, translations and musical notations of the songs; discusses the focus and content of the songs; issues in Dowe language as it is used in the songs; and final remarks. The paper is based on original research on Dowe songs and was initially presented at the 7th International Ethnomusicology Symposium, 25th – 27th July 2013, University of Dar es Salaam, Department of Fine and Performing Arts. The paper has been published as Legère, Karsten. 2014. Wedding Songs of Dowe People. Eastern Tanzania, Bagamoyo District. In Ndomondo, Mathayo, Imani Sanga, Mitchel Strumpf (eds.) Readings in Ethnomusicology: A Collection of Papers Presented at Ethnomusicology Symposium 2013, pp. 48-70. Dar es Salaam: Dept. of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Dar es Salaam. Summary of deposit The Dowe language is a Bantu language spoken in the hinterland of the Indian Ocean coast in some villages of Msata and Miono Ward (Bagamoyo District, Coast Region) of the United Republic of Tanzania. “Ethnologue” claims that there were 24,000 Dowe speakers in 1987. The Language Atlas (MLT 2009:3) lists 7,944 Dowe speakers. The language can be rated highly endangered for the low number of Dowe-speakers, the lack of intergenerational language transfer and the heavy influence of Swahili. This collection will include material from fieldwork conducted between 2012-2013 and is expected to deposit in the near future. Group represented Dowe. Language information The Dowe language (autonym Chidowe, xenonym Kidoe, Doe) is a small Bantu language of Guthrie’s G zone. It is spoken in the hinterland of the Indian Ocean coast in some villages of Msata and Miono Ward (Bagamoyo District, Coast Region) of the United Republic of Tanzania. “Ethnologue” claims that there were 24,000 Dowe speakers in 1987. The Language Atlas (MLT 2009:3) lists 7,944 Dowe speakers. The language can be rated highly endangered due to the low number of Dowe-speakers, the lack of intergenerational language transfer and the heavy influence of Swahili. Acknowledgement This deposit is the result of generous ELDP funding and committed fieldwork as well as text editing in close cooperation with Dowe language experts.